In simpler terms, that means if you're reading this column, you're likely just a check or two away from poverty.

Or, at worst, homelessness.

It's not uncommon to see Birmingham's homeless wandering downtown streets, bundling up on corners to battle this unseasonably cold winter, or even scrounging through public trash cans. Those sights are so frequent that we've become desensitized to them, chalking them up to byproducts of city life, like potholes or pigeons.

But we're talking about human beings here. And, for many of us, one pink slip could transform our families into one of those urban statistics.

Consider it a one-stop-shop for the homeless community. No one leaves hungry or empty-handed.

It's all made possible by the thousands of volunteers who sign up each year. Volunteers work as guides during the event - pointing clients in the right direction, providing assistance and simply serving as a friendly face and a compassionate ear.

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Through a series of interactive workshops, people shared their concerns about crowded prisons, listed possible actions and identified costs and consequences. What emerged from this exercise are these three possible approaches.